Ernest Borgnine, Oscar-Winning Actor, Dead at 95

Ernest Borgnine, the iconic movie and television actor, passed away on Sunday. His spokesman Harry Flynn told The Associated Press that Borgnine died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center surrounded by his family.

Many will remember him for his iconic role of Marty Piletti in the 1955 film ‘Marty,’ which not only won over the nation’s heart but also won him an Academy Award for Best Actor. This was such a change for Borgnine, who at the time was used to playing a lot of villainous-type role, like in ‘Bad Day at Black Rock’ and ‘From Here to Eternity,’ to name two.

For those of you a little too young to remember those classic movies, you’ll probably recognize his voice as the Mermaid Man from ‘Spongebob Squarepants.’ Reflecting back on that role in his life, Borgnine had said it was his only acting gig that the younger generations could identify (check out the video below).

Originally named Ermes Effron Borgnino, Borgnine didn’t start acting until after his service in the US Navy during World War II when his mother, an Italian immigrant, suggested it to him. Though he began his career in theater, he moved to the big screen around 1951, taking on upwards of 200 projects throughout his lifetime. Aside from his Oscar achievement, he was also up for a few Emmys later on in life — one for his guest-starring role on ‘ER’ — as well as winning the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Screen Actor’s Guild in 2010.

Watch a clip of Ernest Borgnine discussing his voice acting for ‘Spongebob.’

Watch Ernest Borgnine in the trailer for his Oscar-winning performance as ‘Marty’